her Charms In fine added he and this was his saying In short I must marry her that I may cease thus to love her He married her in effect and fifteen days of Marriage changed his violent and tumultuous Love into a sweet and delightful Friendship Erastus I profess I like the saying well and let the Ladies take it how they please Cleonice We cannot do better than follow a Maxim which you approve Belise Your Friend was not so easily drawn into Marriage as my Uncle who is married again lately His Children made great complaints to him on the resolution he had taken of giving them a Mother-in-Law They besought him to tell them wherein they had been so unhappy as to displease him and entreated him to let them know what it was that offended him I am so pleased with you answered he that I only marry again to have other Children like you Cleonice I am much mistaken if your Cousins took this for a good saying Dorante You know that the illustrious Person who has given such fine Conversations to the Publick yet was more pleased in doing a good Office than in making a fine Book so that you will not be surprised if she used her most earnest endeavours in begging an employ for a young Gentleman who had been recommended to her The thing depended on a great Lord who was one of her Friends and to whom she said a thousand good things of the Person whose interests she prosecuted The great Lord examined the Person he found him very fit and that he wanted not sense but he answered he seemed to young for the business he was recommended How Sir answered our generous Friend will you reproach him with a fault which we every day correct but too much against our wills At the same instant as Dorante had said this Word was brought that all was ready the Company immediately arose and set out to go to the new Opera They saw it with a great deal of satisfaction but the application which Dorante had to it hindred him not from examining more than once Lisidor's Countenance He was desirous to observe the effect which a splendid sight might produce in the mind of a young Man who had never seen the like Cleonice consulted Lindamire's eyes for the same reason and took notice that she and Lisidor concealed one part of their surprise That they sometimes spake that they look'd on the People of Quality which were in the Boxes in a Word that they did not like those great wonderers whose ignorance is the only cause of their astonishment As soon as ever the Curtain was let down before the Theatre Cleonice and Belise turn'd themselves towards Dorante and ask'd him how he liked what he had heard and seen Dorante I dare not give you my opinion of an Opera which I have but once seen It 's true I shall soon have an opportunity to satisfie your curiosity Philemon has given the first sight of this Opera to Cleonice Lisidor shall give the second to Lindamire and perhaps he will admit us to bear him company Cleonice Having said enough about this Opera I would willingly have Dorante tell us in general whether one may reprehend any one before People and after what manner we may speak of a work that is criticis'd in a Company Dorante I am of opinion that we ought to be very reserved in these occasions but seeing you will have the Conversation turn on this Subject instead of excusing my self I will be the first to tell you my opinion of it ENTERTAINMENT XIII Whether it be fit to reprehend any one in Conversation Dorante THere are every day to be seen in Companies so many Persons who commit faults in respect of Language or good manners that it will be an endless work for any Man to set about correcting them Were it not better for Men to be easie in Conversation to speak and to let others do so too than to be perpetual Dictators to quarrel with People about Words to top every Body and strive only to run all others down I should be greatly troubled should Lisidor he will let me cite him fall in any essential point in Conversation and my Remedy would be to take up the discourse to enter on the opinion which he should be of or to mention the expression which he should have used yet I would not direct my discourse to him lest I put him in confusion and make a Fault observable which perhaps one part of the Company took no notice of Cleonice If one of your Friends talking in Company should use a manner of speaking little exact or contrary to Custum would you rather chuse to leave him in his error than make him know it Belise For my part I believe it were fit to reprehend him Dorante You might do it yet with great Caution and Moderation If the Friend you suppose had a mind to buy Horses and that he said I desired Erastus who knows Horses I would not interrupt him and demand pertly of him What Horses does he know Coach-Horses On the contrary I would make him note his Fault in saying thus You cannot do better than to address your self to Erastus no body understands Horses better than he does Should any one interrupt me unseasonably and with little Civility in these Terms What is that you say there I do not know what you mean and yet I may say I understand English well enough I do not speak as I should do then would I answer him without shewing him any Discomposure or I would repeat again the same thing more at large and in a clearer manner I do not doubt but this Moderation would produce two good Effects It would gain me Esteem and might soften the sharp Humour of the Person who controul'd me Erastus But should you have a Work given you to examine would not you freely speak your opinion of it Dorante You will not be against my making a distinction on what you demand Should I be thought able to give good advice and a Manuscript were put into my hand before it went to the Press I would speak ingenuously what I thought of it and should think my self unworthy the confidence put in me did I deal in another manner Thus you see I am not always so complaisant as you have taken me to be I will tell you too moreover that it is not long since that an Author found me as untractable in matter of Sonnets as Moliere's Misanthropos He shewed me one full of Antitheses wherein a Lover complained of the death of his Mistress I could not bear with all his juglings and impatiently interrupting the Reader How Sir said I to him will you have this Man amuse himself in sporting with Words instead of bewailing his misfortune This is so beside the subject that I doubt I shall not have patience enough to hear it out to the end Erastus Let me tell you a story of a young Author who came from a
for love of me what a cruel assault have you but now endured The Sultaness did nothing but laugh at the last adventure she had been in and told him she took more pleasure to see Chabania's despair for whom she had ever a natural aversion than she had suffered of harm by her outrage and violence But she confessed the same time that she was in extream perplexity when she met with the Bassa ranging over the Garden in search of that Woman and that it was the highest piece of good fortune imaginable that she had her Barnus with her to hide her self in She added that her dear Husband had said to her a thousand gallant things and had done also some things a little extraordinary but that it was her good fortune to be not far from the Bower and to make her escape She told him further that there remained no more doubt of the Bassa's being newly fallen in love with Laura and that she was very well assured of it by the kindness of his expressions and the transports she observed him in at this rencounter that this was the true cause of all their alarms and the reason why he brought him not into the Seraglio as formerly The Count was of the same judgment and both held it necessary to make good use of the occasion and that Laura who was to act the principal part should imploy her best address and complaisance in their favour The Bassa taking small pleasure in the Garden after the unhappy success of his amorous designs having done his endeavour to pacifie Chabania would bring her back to her Lodgings and pass'd by Alexander's Bower to let him understand it was time to withdraw The Count followed him immediately being extreamly joyful to have come off so happily from a walk that had prov'd so full of adventures He bore his dear Sultaness company into her Apartment where he staid not long for fear of the Bassa but withdrew to his lodging He past the rest of the night very pleasantly though he slept not at all and the truth is he had reason enough to be well pleased though his Patron had not who was more labouring under mortal afflictions Laura whom he now was more deeply in Love with than ever put him in despair by her Rigours and Cruelties if no more pity from her then no more pleasure to be expected in his life His great affection for Alexander could not keep him from being his rival and wishing to share with him in the favours she did him His passion was arrived at a point which is the highest of sufferings that of not being loved and when he thought of the opportunity he had let slip the night before when he had Laura in his power he was so cruelly vext he could have found in his heart to be revenged of himself yet he had no great cause to blame his discretion for he had done enough and unless he would have driven hiâ— Gallantry to the last push of all he could not haâ—â— done more He was not willing to declare himself to Alexander nor acquaint him with the thoughts he had newly entertained as well to prevent the displeasure he believed it would give him as for that he conceived the Count might be of use to him in the design and that the discovery might be to his prejudice In the Morning as soon as he was up he went as he sometimes was used to the Count's Chamber without any attendant and found him in bed A Man said he must be as happy as Alexander in his Love before he can sleep as quietly as he If there be any answered the Count hath cause to commend his good fortune on that account it must without doubt be a Person of your comliness and Gallantry who to gain love need no more than say you are in love Yes replyed the Bassa with a smile except it be to Laura who hath made me very sensible that I can sigh to no purpose and that the master of her person may not be the master of her heart It was necessary that Alexander should come from Europe to Africk to make that Conquest This Sir replyed the Count may be an instance of the Vagaries and Extravagancies of Love who often knows not where to fix but follows the effects of destiny or the Stars which are predominant over the affections And I believe Sir added he smilling as for the Love of Laura you are already very well satisfied and so little concerned where she bestows it that you never designed to make me in Love with her that you might be my Rival However said he observing the Bassa sigh I assure you should it so happen you cannot do me a greater favour than in letting me know it And you shall find that all the passion I can have for her shall not hinder any performance of the duty I owe you I will quit all my pretentions as I know you have the least design upon her that I may prevent all dispute with a Person to whom I am so deeply oblig'd that there can be nothing so dear to me but I will part with it for your sake Believe it Alexander answered the Bassa it is not so easie a matter to be disingaged from a passion like yours you may as well perswade me you cannot be in Love I am certainly in Love replied the Count and it may be as deeply as possible but having so many favours daily heaped on me from you there is nothing in the World I shall Love more than your repose and satisfaction And Sir if Laura appear now as amiable as formerly to you I must tell you again I love her no longer so easie a matter was it for the subtile Italian to be generous in parting with that in which he was so little concerned The Bassa asked him if he would say as much before Laura He answered he believed him too just and too gallant to desire him to make a declaration of that nature before one who had been his Mistress At last the Bassa proposed another walk in the Garden that very day and at the same time prayed him to write about it to Laura which the Count having not been able to avoid received his answer The burnt child dreads the fire we do not commonly expose our selves twice to the same danger The Bassa 's usage of me last night gives me small encouragement to trust him the second time And you are an eye witness how ill I was handled by her he had with him Let it satisfie you that if you come hither I will have the honour to see you But no more walking The Bassa much troubled at so unexpected an answer went out of the Counts Chamber without saying a word and pass'd in solitude the rest of the day But in the Evening he went to the Sultaness where he presently met Laura who inquiring of Alexander and why he had not brought him with him would it displease you said the
come and when I thought my self just ready to be possess'd of so great a happiness Clarice who waited on Eleanor in her Chamber and was her intimate Confident brought me a Billet I will shew you having by good fortune kept it safe to this minute With that he took out a little Purse from his pocket and out of the Purse the Billet which he read to Assen in these words I am heartily sorry my dear Hippolito I must fail my assignation But an unhappy accident I must not now tell you of will for a few days retard our happiness you may believe me as sensible of it as you are but love me as you have done Love will furnish us with opportunity enough Adieu I had never received a Letter from Eleanor nor knew her Character so that it was easie for Clarice to make me believe that Billet came from her I asked her what her Mistress ail'd Nothing says she laughing but that she is not very well this evening I fancied understood her meaning and examin'd her no further but withdrew sufficiently displeased with my ill fortune that night when a Page of the Vice-Queens met me coming down stairs and told me his Lady desired to speak with me In the humour I was in I could have wish'd a Dispensation from waiting upon her but not knowing what excuse to make being so near her and fearing she might have something to tell me from Eleanor being the common subject of her discourse with me I followed the Page into her Chamber where I found her expecting my coming she was at her Toilet and the Viceroy being out of Town as soon as she saw me she reproached me for deserting her so she could of late scarce see me in the croud that if I would not out of Gallantry I should at least out of civility have afforded her my company when destitute of other I was not disposed for giving her so pleasing an answer as I would have done another time however I said not any thing to disoblige her I was melancholy and vext but so deeply in love I had a stock of kindness and complaisance which abundantly furnished me with pleasing expressions which the Vice-Queen did not disapprove of I had not seen her in a better humour and falling into discourse she kept me with her a great part of that night but she thought me out of humour and quarrelled with me upon 't I excused my self as having sat up all the night before at play Hereupon she invited me to lye on her Bed I was priviledg'd to be familiar and without further intreaty made use of my liberty for the truth is I was almost dead for want of sleep within less than two hours I was awak'd on the sudden by the light of a Flamboy held before my eyes and the first object I saw was Eleanor with a Ponyard in her hand to take away my life had not Don Alphonso laid hold on her arm and prevented the stroke Judge you what amazement I was in I might with some reason have suspected all this a Dream But my Rival having seized the Ponyard to execute what he had hindered Eleanor to do had she not done me in her turn the like Service I thought it high time to take care of my life and running to my Arms put my self in a posture of defence The Vice-Queen half dead with the fright came running to part us but was like to have been kill'd by her Son who seemed as eager to dispatch her as me I happily saved her two or three times and at last standing before her the fury Don Alphonso was in made him run on my Weapon and kill himself rather than be killed by me I saw him fall which troubled me extreamly foreseeing the dreadful Consequence of such a misfortune I turn'd towards the unhappy Mother to ask her what she would do and found her swouned away and lying without motion I was so much afflicted with the spectacle I wish'd my self dead at last necessity pressing me to withdraw I entred Eleanor's Chamber to see her once more and dye at her feet if she desired my life to expiate my fault but I found her not and so left the Pallace without any obstacle My design was to pass into Sicily and being in search of a Felucca to embarque in found Clarice almost drown'd in tears at the Port. I knew her and asked whither she went and what she would have Ah Sir said she I have been looking for my Mistress who the Mariners tell me is embarqued not a quarter of an hour since for Barcellona I was strangely surprized at the news and without further deliberation took the first Felucca I met and Clarice being very willing to go with me in search of her Mistress or rather to get away from a Court where she had reason to fear the severest extremities after the disorder lately happen'd wherein she knew her self concern'd I put her aboard and had the weather so favourable we hoped to reach Barcellona before Eleanor could be there I took care to enquire the Name of the Felucca she was embarqued in and the Masters I was till then so distracted and oppress'd with grief and despair it was not in my power to make any resolution on all these misfortunes but being got to Sea I recollected my self and considered all those disasters but the more I thought on them the more was I perplex'd about them I could not imagine by what accident Don Alphonso and Eleanor should be together to surprize me in the Vice-Queens Chamber unless we had been betray'd or Don Alphonso more in favour with Eleanor than I believed and if that were so why should my Rival prevent my death as he did and why did she take her turn too to save my life from Alphonso unless both were ambitious of the honour to have killed me However I must confess I deserv'd death and wish I had received it at Eleanor's hand I should not then have had the displeasure of imbrewing my hands in the Blood of a Person who had all the reason in the World to be reveng'd of me Clarice was very ill in the Felucca of the fright she had taken or else Sea-sick I had not seen her all the time of the disaster at Naples I told her part of the story and found it so much afflicted her especially when I acquainted her with the death of Alphonso she grew worse and worse I asked her several questions which she answered with a great deal of trouble pretending Ignorance but in such a manner as gave me cause enough to suspectned the contrary and believe she was more concer in this business than I was aware of I was unwilling to press her in the condition she was in to reveal the secret though I was curious of a discovery but hoped to make it when she should be a little better We arriv'd at Barcellona but no news of the Bark Eleanor went aboard of I
Lisidor However there is one for when we find persons already at the door or there come any before it be opened Civility requires one to withdraw to let them first enter who came before us and offer the door even unto those who came after if they appear to be persons of any Consideration However this does not free me from my perplexity for if I be not known to those Persons how far am I obliged to carry on my Civility or to speak better this kind of Ceremony Dorante There is on the Countenance and Behaviour certain Characters which may make us guess at the Condition of Persons and which determins us to treat them with more or less Civility according as our Conjectures shall direct us But when a Man that wants Experience and Penetration finds himself in the Uncertainty you speak of he must take the surest side which is to pay more respects than we think are due seeing it is better that People who are not worthy of them should be obliged to us for 'em than to expose our selves to disoblige Persons who merit more Civility than we have paid them Yet we must not fall into those Ceremonies which were so incommodious in the former Court They have been long since banisht and we can hardly believe Men should make it an Art to torture themselves and others Lisidor I know Sir there was never any Comedy more pleasant than was one of those Contests whereon they fell every time two or three met at a Gate I have heard say that they added strange Contentions to their Complements that they step back to advance again immediately and to push forward with Violence towards the Passage those Persons to whom they would give place Dorante The Eloquent Expressions which were studied and spoke with great Deliberation were no less ridiculous than the Postures they made and methinks I see a Viscount and a Baron of those Times thus contesting it with one another The Viscount No no Sir say and do what you will I 'll pass no farther and stir no more from hence than London-Bridge does to White-hall The Baron And for my part Sir let one word be as good as a thousand I will not enter I 'll as soon lie here all Night in this Corner where the knowledge of your Merit has made me withdraw In fine Sir I protest if it lay in the power of my Wishes I would chuse rather to dwell eternally here than to suffer your Civility to supplant my Duty The Viscount No mention of Duty good Sir for that belongs to me and were there another Judge than your Modesty to decide our Differences I should soon gain my Cause Fie on this Modesty it is not equitable enough to be our Arbitrator she will take what is due from you and give me that which does not belong to me I hope she will be sooner tired than your Reason and you must yield to me in permitting me to yield to you The Baron However I shall do nothing unless you command me to do any thing The Viscount Well then I command you That I may obey you The Baron In this case my Obedience will excuse my Fault and I may now say that we shall go in Procession where the Principals march the last The Peace had no sooner ended this Conflict but at a new Door new Phrases and new Strivings Lisidor I think the young People happy in being born in a time wherein they are delivered from these tiresom Fashions But Sir pray whence came they and how came they to be receiv'd in a Countrey where Franchisement has given the Name to the Nation therein established Dorante It 's true one would wonder how we could relish them for the French are too mercurial to remain whole hours in a state of complementing But the Italians on the contrary more patient and more at lesure and of more pliant Spirits perhaps have introduced this manner among us However the famous Monsieur de la Care tells us that the Ceremonies past from Spain to Italy but supposing this were true and that the Spaniards have taken them from the Moors of Granade as well as their Gallantry yet I must still believe that they rather come from Italy than from any other Nation I have ever imagined that the Italians have made a kind of Art of them and keep as it were a Register of them which one may term their Ceremonial Lisidor I suppose the word Ceremony is not ancient and that it may have come from that given to respectful Actions which Church-men make use of to denote the Honour they give to God or to Holy Things Dorante I am of the same Opinion as you We have extended in process of time the signification of this Term. It has been thought fit to apply it to the Reverences which men make to one another in bowing down in uncovering the Head and by accompanying these Actions with an hundred other Grimaces the more to testifie our Submission This Custom is but the shadow of what it was and it is well for us it is so However it is not so much abased but that it endeavours to raise up its Head But those Persons as know the World retrench all these Superfluities and observe only what Decency requires Hereby they fall not into fruitless Excess of Words and Submissions which are seldom taken for sincere And therefore they be commonly used to flatter in appearance such Persons as we do in effect despise To proceed farther all these Ceremonies and these Protestations of Amity would not only be look'd upon as so many Dissimulations but one might look upon them as Crimes and Treacheries if those Terms which are at every turn used had not lost their first Validity through long Custom But we are wont no longer to take these in a strict sense We see every day People embrace one another kiss and make a thousand offers as if they were the best Friends in the world and who a moment afterwards acknowledge without Hesitation that they scarce knew one another However we must follow this Custom instead of attempting to change it It is less our Fault than the Fault of our Age and all that wise People can do is to use it with moderation and discretion When all the world falls into a Fault no body can be blamed and how extravagant soever a Mode may be a Man would yet be still more extravagant if he refused to comply with it Should he alone offer to withstand the general Consent of his Country Let us grant therefore that there are Ceremonies of Duty from which we cannot fairly excuse our selves but offend Persons who will imagine we pay 'em not their Dues So that the Authority of Custom may do all things in point of Ceremony and therefore it must be regarded as a kind of Law Let not a Man examine whether this Law be good or bad it is sufficient it has obtain'd whereby we are obliged to obey it
the chief Particulars of it but I forgot till now to mention it to him This occasion of doing it offers it self too naturally to neglect it Will you refuse Dorante to let me know wherein this Heresie consisted Dorante You well judge Madam that I will do what you please yet you must permit me not to enter on particularising the Errors which the Quietists followed For thus were those call'd who embrac'd this Sect. They drew this Name from the Rest they pretended to enjoy when they had rais'd their Souls to Contemplation by the means of a Prayer they recited They held it was sufficient for them to make an Act of Faith and set themselves in the Presence of God and to rely wholly on his Providence This was methinks a good way to draw abundance of People whether that being lazy they chuse rather to yield themselves up after this manner that they may not act or that they had the Vanity to believe themselves capable of well contemplating If Women as you now say are not the Authors of Heresies yet we see 'em ready enough to follow those they are taught as either being desirous of new things or suffering themselves to be taken with the fine appearances wherewith the Errors which are proposed be generally disguised However it be several Persons of your Sex followed the Opinions of Molinos the Chief of the Quietists It is true this Spaniard passed for a Saint before he was discovered to be an Heresiarch You know Madam that he has abjured his Errors and that he is shut up for the rest of his Life Erastus One may in a Conversation relate the History of an Heresie recite the Establishment of it the Progress and Decay of it for there is none but we have seen destroyed in the end Dorante However we should never mix with these Relations any thing which may make these Novelties relish They are sometimes more dangerous than the Opinions of Libertines To convince these latter I need only entreat them to consider the Course of the Sun the Motions of the Stars and the productions of the Earth They will see that Man could not set that Order which we admire in the Universe he that cannot regulate so much as a simple Digestion in himself and who has been so long ignorant of the Circulation of the Blood in his own Veins Must it not be acknowledged that he who so well governs so vast a Machin must needs be a wise and infinitely powerful Being and if he be such a one as we say can we refuse him our Adorations I would willingly know after what manner we should regulate the Worship which should serve to testifie our Acknowledgment and our Submission Must this be the Fancy of some frantick Enthusiast or by the Pious Maxims of great and holy Personages which have been always in the Universal Church This matter is too fine and large to be included in our Entertainments Instead of engaging our selves therein it is sufficient to make known to you in few words that it is no hard matter to shut the Mouths of the Libertines provided they prefer not their Obstinacy to the Reasons wherewith one may convince them However I would not have those who maintain the right side to appear puft up with their advantages they must speak with good sense with respect and without sharpness and ostenation Whilst Dorante ended these Words Erastus's Coach was heard to come before the Door and presently Philemon and Belise entred into Cleonice's Chamber Philemon You expected me alone and I bring my Spouse with me She comes to stay with Cleonice if we go to Versailles where I know that Dorante and I shall meet with a Prelate whom we design to see this Morning Erastus We shall do better to eat what may be presently ready and to go all together I will leave you to do your business and make your Court as long as you please and I will take care to satisfie the curiosity of Lisidor and Lindamire The Company having consented to what Erastus proposed such orders were given as were fit for so small a journey Philemon I must tell you that Belise's coming has occasion'd me to make you stay so long and I entreat you to pardon me if I did not know that as long as you be together we shall never believe you in danger of being weary Cleonice It 's true that Dorante has entertain'd us in an elegant and easie manner on a very nice and important subject He has shewed us in what terms and after what manner we may speak of our Religion and I am so satisfied with it that I wish Belise had her share in the Entertainment Philemon Perhaps she would have had less pleasure than you imagine For it is certain it is not for discourses of this kind that she has the greatest curiosity Belise My ignorance is the cause I am ever afraid that it would cast me into errors however good my intentions may be But you know I am not so fearful in other matters I speak with a tone of assurance of the Customs of People and the Government of States when I enter on the politick Humour you so often twit me with Cleonice Ah Belise you are then bolder than I am for I confess that of the three sorts of distinct Governments I dared never speak of any but the Monarchical Neither would I hazard my self in pronouncing the names which relate to the different Republicks we know Belise And I say audaciously Aristocracy and Democracy and without Vanity I have not been four Months a learning these two words Cleonice For my part I should be three years on resolving whether I should speak them and after so long a term I believe I should remain still irresolute Erastus Let 's leave these Jests if you please and whilst Breakfast is getting ready let 's entertain our selves with a Science which Belise and all great Persons prefer before others Belise Rally as much as you will but if Dorante will take my part I will consent that he shall talk alone and you will see whether my opinions be ill maintained Cleonice We like this expedient well and Dorante never refusing to comply with his Friend's proposals he will accept your offers and we shall thereby be gainers ENTERTAINMENT XVIII That State affairs must be discoursed of with great reservedness Dorante I Will speak then seeing you enjoyn me and will first say that I put a great difference between Foreign Affairs and those which relate to us We may speak our opinions touching the Government of other Nations with as much boldness as Belise does supposing we understand the Interests and Maxims of them But when we are pleased to discourse on the State under which we live we should never extend our conjectures too far nor affect to appear too penetrating You know nothing does more contribute to the happy success of an enterprise than the secrecy observ'd therein The Captains themselves whom
according as it is suitable to us A Person consecrated to the Service of the Altar should prefer the Knowledge of Religion to all other Sciences and his Piety must be so great as to make his Words and Actions exemplary A Soldier must glister after another manner Valour should be his Virtue and what regards Military Discipline or the Art of Fortification should be his chief Study Cleonice But can I not be told precisely what this Virtue is in general so much talk'd of Dorante It is not an easie matter wholly to satisfie you on this Subject so diversly has the Virtue you speak of been considered I know not whether you will approve of an Opinion which I find the most plausible I am perswaded that this Virtue of which we form so fine an Idea and which is believ'd so proper to make us live happily is properly what we call Justice Belise But is not Justice the particular Virtue of Magistrates Dorante It should be the Virtue of all People and had we all that stock of Equity necessary for the Commerce of Life we should need neither Law nor Magistrates Men would render whatever they are obliged to render and they would begin by the Worship due to God Subjects would obey their Soveraigns Children their Parents and as no body would claim what does not belong to him there would be no mention of Thefts nor Murthers even Detraction would be banisht all Societies Whilst Dorante ended these words word was brought that the Meat was on the Table and Erastus being risen up You must acknowledge your selves said he greatly surprized at the Novelty of my Compliment for I know not whether I shall begin with Gentlemen or Ladies you must draw me out of this Perplexity and for the rest I know it by Heart The Company having laught at the serious Air wherewith Erastus spake this answer'd that he might use his Liberty so that he reassumed the Discourse in these terms Erastus Come let 's end at Table this Discourse of Distinctions You 'll soon distinguish between the wretched Treats I give you and the delicate Entertainments you give What say you of these Antitheses Dorante That they are admirable although we are on the point to convince them of Falsity After these Words they eat and bad the People who were to set out with them to make haste and they returned to Cleonice's Chamber Belise I always go to Versailles with a great deal of Pleasure but at my return I am strangely importun'd by Arsinoa she will have me to describe new Magnificences or new Rarities and puts such Questions to me as are strangely troublesome Cleonice I am yet more troubled with Celisira she asks News of me with the greatest Earnestness and will have me give her an Account of all that passes in the whole World She has given me such a great Aversion for what we may call News that I neither have ask'd nor told any for these Twelve Months Dorante But Madam hereby you deprive your self of a very considerable Diversion and hinder your self from learning important matters wherein an infinite number of People are concern'd And therefore Madam I must beg your Favour for News They are an innocent Cause of the Vexation which Arsinoa gives you and it is not just you should for this reason extend your Resentment so far as to hate them Philemon But should we not seek some means to make them agreeable to reconcile them the more easily with Cleonice ENTERTAINMENT XX. After what manner we should tell News Erastus I Cannot so far interest my self in the Quarrels of Cleonice as to take her part against News however I must prefer those which divert before others I am very earnest to tell of a Marriage lately made between two Persons who sincerely loved and were much traverst in their Design I am pleas'd to describe a gallant and magnificent Feast or a famous Action perform'd at the Head of two Armies And I must acknowledge I am no less delighted in telling with what Subtilty a covetous Hunks has been put upon or by what Address the Precautions of a jealous Person has been rendred fruitless You see I discover my Defects to you and that I am not exempt from Malice nor an Enemy to pleasant Relations It 's true there are very few Stories that please me If it be an adventure I would have it surprising if the News respects only those ready and lively answers which we call pleasant Repartees I require a great delicateness in the tour of expression Belise I am not of Erastus's mind in point of News The gay please me less than the sad and my Spouse must pardon me if I say that I love to have my Heart lively toucht with compassion Cleonice There is indeed I know not what kind of sweetness in being toucht with pity Other passions are more violent and less agreeable Experience shews it us in the representation of a Tragedy Infinite numbers of People are drawn to it by the tenderness of their sentiments and do not part wholly satisfied if they have not been forc'd to weep Erastus The Tragedies you speak of and the sad News which please Belise have a farther good effect which apparently you have not thought on which is that we cannot see a Person of great merit fall into a great misfortune but that we feel a secret mitigation of our evils Can we justly reproach Fortune in giving us a moderate stroke when we see what cruel pains she inflicts on Persons of an extraordinary Virtue Philemon Do you not think that the News which War furnishes you with ought to carry it before all other sort of relations Can one better draw the attention than in describing a great Battle the taking of a considerable Place the conquest of a Country or the revolution of a State Cleonice Were I a Lover of News I would only recount such wherein those should be Interess'd that heard me and if this News were News of that part of the Town where I live they would please me better than the News Philemon commends Belise And I must declare my self for that kind of News which is instructive and 't is of that sort methinks wherewith we should entertain our selves Dorante I know not Madam whether there be News which may in particular be called instructive but I may say that all News in general may become instructive when they are related by an able Man He can render the circumstances thereof useful for manners for the administration of affairs for the Government of People and for the ordering of Armies If a Siege or Battle be set forth to us in their proper colours we shall observe the defects or the good conduct of the Generals and thence make our advantage If we be told of the consternation wherein the Ottomans were we shall see that we must lay aside Pleasures when business requires a constant attendance We shall accuse Mahomet IV. of blindness in going to
me Madam answers he if all the Affection of my Soul can merit Your love And whether the Earl of Leicester whom you design to make the Happiest Man on Earth shall not carry the Day from me The Earl of Leicester said I was but a Pretence to make you speak I told you then truly the Thoughts I had of you My Trouble for you was not small both in your Absence and since your Return But all is forgotten Be henceforth as I wish and doubt not of being Happy He answer'd me with some Disorder which I fancy'd the Effect of unexpected Joy I thought it time to be no longer scrupulous and that it was in vain to have any Reserves when I had said so much I will not let you go under any Uncertainty proceeded I but to convince you clearly of the Truth of what I 've said take This said I delivering him a RING as the highest Mark of my Favour keep it as a Pledge of my Kindness which I conjure you to preserve in the State it is in And on that Condition I promise you never to deny you any thing you shall desire of me when you shew me this RING though it cost me my Life and my Fortune His Joy and Acknowledgments at receiving the RING were in Appearance extraordinary and unparallel'd and attended with Promises of as high a Nature He went for Ireland in few Days leaving me fully perswaded his Thoughts were wholly taken up with me But he had scarce advanc'd up to the Rebels but he was charg'd with all the Crimes which occasion'd his Imprisonment and that of the Earl of Southampton Then it was I began to repent I had not given Ear to the wholesome Advice Cecil would have given me concerning the secret Conduct of the Earl of Essex In a Word while my Thoughts were wholly imploy'd to make his Fortune glorious he was plotting with the Earl of Tyrone to surprize and make me Prisoner in this Palace You know the rest Madam his obstinate Resistance his want of Respect for my Orders his imprisoning my Ministers his murthering my Souldiers and his intolerable Pride in all his Misfortunes Thus ended the Queen's Discourse which having call'd fresh to her Mind all that had pass'd between her and Essex she was more troubled than ever The Countess of Nottingham hath heard her with Attention suitable to her great Concern in the Discourse She as well as the Queen had been in Love with the Earl and advanc'd many Steps but in vain to raise a Passion in him And having newly understood the Cause of his slighting her it added infinitely to her former Resentments She had no mind to condemn the Queen's Weakness knowing her self guilty of the like Nor was she inclin'd to speak in Favour of a Man who was grown so much the more odious to her as she had formerly passionately lov'd him She thought it sufficient to comfort the Queen with Discourses that seem'd to proceed only from Zeal for her Service when in truth her Thoughts were wholly bent for the Ruine of an ingrateful Lover who in her Judgment deserved nothing but Hatred at her Hands Though Love thought not fit the Earl of Essex should admire the Countess of Nottingham yet another was her Captive whose Character did in a manner make her amends It was Secretary Cecil who amidst his great Offices and the Gravity that became them discover'd in the Beauty Ingenuity and high Spirit of the Countess of Nottingham some Charms that made him capable of a strong Passion for her which was heightned by the Hatred both of them had profess'd against the Earl of Essex Cecil having always look'd on him as the invincible Obstacle of his ambitious Pretensions And the Countess had against him all the Rage and Aversion that usually succeed Kindness abus'd They were glad of the Imprisonment of the Earl of Essex but the favourable Inclinations the Queen exprest for him alarm'd them The Countess had no sooner taken Leave of the Queen but she gave Cecil an Account of all she had learnt Having consider'd the Consequences they concluded it necessary while their Princess sigh'd secretly for the Prisoner means should be found by private Ways and in artful Conduct without their appearing to have any such Design to take away the Mercy which Love might inspire into her Cecil for the first Step press'd the Queen to bring Essex to his Tryal and caus'd certain News of his Death to be spread throughout England Essex in the mean time was busied with Thoughts of more Weight than those of his Life He knew well enough his Queen lov'd him and knew as well he had deceiv'd her and that she might with a great deal of Justice not only reproach but condemn him The Queen had not seen him since his going into Ireland But having not the Power to give him up to his ill Fortune without having heard him she resolv'd to go to his House where he was Prisoner to reproach him as he deserv'd and endeavour if possible to find him innocent It is not far from Whitehall to Essex-House and the Queen took so good Order in the matter that no Notice was taken of the Undecency of the Visit having been introduced by her Confidents alone into the Chamber of the Criminal He was surpriz'd at the Presence of the Queen The languishing Condition she was in made her sigh All went for him and the Victory seem'd easie He saluted her with a profound Respect and then fixing on her Face those Eyes of his which had so often charm'd her he fetch'd some Tears from hers Well my Lord says she drying them you see what I do for you notwithstanding all the Crimes I can reproach you with I am come to you and with a Design to hear you if you have any thing to say to justifie your self I have lov'd you too well not to wish it above all things And would Heaven were pleas'd your Justification might be purchas'd with any the most precious Thing in my Power My greatest Crime is that I thought my self too happy Madam replyes the Earl sighing Had you rested there said the Queen I should have been too well satisfy'd to have complain'd of you But to believe your self happy was it necessary you should betray me And must you needs have made use of violent means to make your self Master of a Fortune I was willing to share with you What Reason could you have to seek the Protection of the Kings of Scotland and Spain Did any Interests oblige you to secret Correspondencies with Tyrone And was it for the Safety of my Person you design'd to make me your Slave and his All you have done since to my Subjects against my Orders Are those the Expressions of your Respect Is it by Fury and Treason you shew your Zeal for me and the Publick Or is all we have seen and heard of you but Illusion and Fancy Yes Madam replies the Earl those Accusations of Treason and
from your Goodness These Words effected partly what she aim'd at The Queen blush'd sigh'd and was silent a while It must be confest proceeds she That to do all for him without putting him to the cost of one Sign of Repentance is to approve of his Pride and encourage him to carry it on to the highest Extremities He would have my Kindness do all and without any Reflection on the Outrages he hath done me he believes I shall think my self too happy in beholding the Executioner's Hand Never doubt Madam says the Countess but he makes account to triumph still over that Goodness your Majesty hath always made appear towards him Had he been carried from Westminster to the Scaffold had you given him a Sight of that Sence of Death and pardon'd Southampton without respiting the other's Execution he would have been glad to make use of any means in his Power to move you to Mercy But he knows the Power he hath over you and pretends that by receiving a Pardon he vouchsafes not to Petition for all the World will believe him innocent But Madam if matters be carried on thus What will the World judge of your Majesty There is not a Person ignorant of this Adventure And if the Earl of Essex without acknowledging his Crimes sees himself at Liberty Will it not be said That England is govern'd by a Queen not so discreet as Fame reports her to be At this Cecil arriv'd and fortify'd extreamly the Countess of Nottingham's Parly He seconded her with all the Art of a cruel Eloquence to perswade the Queen She was concern'd in Honour the Earl of Essex should die The Queen in a Pet consented he should be executed suddenly and Cecil lost no time in carrying her Orders to those who were to be Actors in the Execution The Earl of Essex as the Countess of Nottingham had shrewdly guess'd had no Thoughts of petitioning for a Favour which in all Probability the Queen's Kindness would of it self freely grant him But when he saw himself on the point of being carry'd to the Place of Execution he thought it his Duty not to neglect the Medicines he had in his power to bring about the Queen Then he resolv'd to implore Her Mercy and put her in mind of her Promises and Oaths And knowing the Countess of Nottingham was her Favorite and Confident though he had Cause to believe she had no great Kindness for him he was perswaded she might have Generosity enough to serve him in this important Meditation He sent to desire the Favour of a Visit from her The Countess impatient to know the Cause went directly to him without acquainting the Queen Who but a Barbarian could have seen the Earl of Essex's Person and at the same time know his Misfortune without being melted into Compassion Yet the Countess of Nottingham at the sight of him was all Cruelty and Revenge But feigning some sweetness she gave him away to declare himself thus Can you Madam pardon the most unfortunate of Men the Trouble he gives you at a time when he hath no cause to flatter himself you have any Remains of Kindness for him Yet nothing can be now of greater Advantage to me than your Protection I know the Power you have over the Queen and would you be pleas'd to joyn it to my Sorrow and Repentance for having offended Her I doubt not but we may prevail much Tell Her then Madam continues he putting his Knee to the Ground That you have seen me in this suppliant Posture full of Grief for having deserv'd Her Hatred Restore her this RING which I have kept and entreat Her to remember the Promises She made when She gave it me I beg my Life by this PLEDGE and She cannot deny it me without forgeting Her Oaths I can no longer look on Life as a thing pleasing to me but a miserable Wife and the Interest of a Son press me to continue it as long as I can I cannot think the Innocence of the One or the Infancy of the Other needs my Justification The Favour to be begg'd of the Queen is for me alone The Countess of Nottingham was transported with Joy to see the Earl trust her with the RING which had so often Alarm'd her and whose Power Cecil was still afraid of She frankly promis'd what she had not the least intent to do for Essex added feign'd Tears to her false Promises and assur'd him she would directly go use her utmost Interest with the Queen in his Favour But instead of going to the Queen to give Her an Acccunt of her Visit she went to Cecil who waited for her prais'd her Cruelty and had the Pleasure to see in his power the sole Obstacle against Essex's Death They went together to the Queen who asking How Essex receiv'd Her last Orders He was never observ'd so haughty Madam answer's Cecil he cannot prevail with himself to shew the least Sign of Repentance He thinks of nothing but his Wife and she is the whole Subject of his discourse to those who go to him Let him die then let him perish says the Queen very angry since he will have it so Let Me be eas'd of the tormenting Uncertainties and Disquiets I am under I am no longer against his Execution This Zealous Minister was unwilling to leave the Queen the least time of Reflection And while the Earl of Essex was in expectation of the Effect of the Promises of the unfaithful Countess of Nottingham provision was made for his Execution in the Tower to avoid a Rebellion among the People who lov'd him His Soul was naturally great and discover'd not the least Weakness in the last extremity Never did Man go to his Death with more Constancy and Firmness He did not murmur in the least against the Queen though he might have Reproacht her with Promises He mounted the Scaffold Resolutely Undrest himself Recommended his Family to those about him and having drawn Tears from all Eyes that were Spectators of that last Act of his Life he receiv'd his Death without so much as giving way his Eyes should be cover'd Thus Dy'd this famous Favourite of Queen Elizabeth One of the best Qualify'd Persons in the World and a Man who had been too happy had not Love had too great a Power over him Soon after the Queen had consented he should be Executed she Relaps'd into her former irresolutions and after a sharp Conflict within her self she resolv'd to Pardon him and sent an Officer of her Guards to forbid their proceeding further But it was too late Cecil had fore-seen what might happen and cruelly provided against the Effects of her relapse into former Kindness The Earl of Essex was already Executed and that was the Answer he carry'd the Queen Then it was she lost her ordinary Moderation then her Grief broke out publickly Cecil says she What Mischief hath your Barbarous Zeal and Impatience done me With that she burst out into Tears and would not endure the
his usual eloquence had set forth the esteem and love he had for her Women of what condition or quality soever can never pardon such kind of slights especially those that are handsom She call d him by the most injurious names she could invent Is it possible says she that I can be so little valu'd and that a man for whom I have given my self a thousand torments and whom I have loved hitherto even to the contempt of a thousand that deserv'd it better should himself labour for his own dishonour Oh Heavens pursues she this indifference of his or rather this insupportable injury he does me cannot sufficiently be punished I ought to content a husband that is of this humour I have yet the same charms and winning looks as I had wherewith I might allure a thousand lovers to me without giving him the trouble of seeking them for me he shall not have cause to complain on that score I will see how for his patience will extend and I am a fool my self if I make not him the greatest of all mankind Let me begin with this young Neapolitan I perceive I am not indifferent to him and since he is a Gallant I receive from my husbands hands let me entertain him so kindly as that he may have no cause to be dissatisfyed He will lose more by it then my self With these thoughts she bore her self company to her Chamber and entertain'd her self with them the greatest part of the night during which she confirm'd her self in the resolution she had taken of seconding her disloyal husband's good intentions When a virtuous woman has taken the pains to convince her self and is fully perswaded thto ' the motives of Revenge and Honour that the sin is excusable neither virtue nor honour is of strength sufficient to oppose her The Count was extreamly out of humour that he had met with so unlucky an encounter with the Viceroy's Mistress He foresaw the consequences of it and he was not a little troubled at the Resolution he had taken To think no longer to love Donna Angelica was nonsense because already he was so far engag'd and to continue it was absolutely to ruine himself What in the world to do he knew not as the case then stood if he had been able to believe his interest in this fair one so powerful as to perswade her to agree with him in deceiving the Viceroy they might then keep their love secret but he durst not flatter himself so far as to that point he had a desire notwithstanding to satisfy himself in this particular if he could find ever an opportunity for it without plunging the Viceroy into new suspicions Whilst he was labouring under this inquietude he saw him come into his Chamber The Count altogether surpriz'd at this visit presently judg'd that some great important business had brought him thither The Viceroy observing in his Countenance the trouble that lay upon him to put him out of his pain after he had familiarly seated himself on the bed-side where the Count was laid You see says he smiling what it is to be in love by my being up so early when you are as fast taken in the Amorous lime-twigs as my self you will then sleep as little as I do and passing from this little preamble to the occasion of his visit he told him That Donna Angelica was mightily incens'd against him even almost to the last extremity for what he had said the evening before in the Garden You know pursues he whether I testified any kind of regret or jealousy when I found you alone with her though possibly I might have had very good ground for both But however she has past a thousand severe censures upon that action You must go wait upon her this morning and if she puts you upon that Chapter endeavour what you can to disabuse her but above all be sure to take no Notice that I have spoke to you or that I have in the least made you my confident of my passion for her If she speaks to you of the Vice-queen let her understand that all your inclinations are bent that way for her It is the ordinary frailty of Womenkind to flatter themselves that they are extreamly admired by the men and you having seen them both together she perhaps may think you have made a dividend of your heart betwixt them but let her understand your inclinations let her see your heart is incapable of adoring any more than one Divinity and that having made choice of the Vice-queen you have given up your self absolutely to be subject to her Empire After these and a great many other good Remonstrances the Viceroy went his way and the Count having drest himself to the most advantage he could directed his way to the Palace and found Donna Angelica bright as the Day setting before her Toilet she blusht when she saw him possibly at the remembrance of the last words he had spoke to her and having made him sit down they both remain'd silent perplext I am apt to believe with the multitude of their thoughts rather then want of matter for a Discourse But Donna Angelica unwilling any longer to insult upon the young Lovers disorder took pity on him thereby to retrieve his Courage I thought says she you came here to ask my pardon for the boldness you took yesterday in the Evening but by what I perceive you have forgot it already It is true Madam answers he sighing I am criminal enough to beg your pardon since I have been so unhappy as to displease you but I must confess to you though I were to expiate my fault with the laying down of my life at your Feet I know not whether I could ever repent of what I said to you and if it be a crime to love you I am in danger of being all my life the greatest criminal in the World You do not feat then replies she to offend me Alas Madam says he sighing I dread your least displeasure but love is a God more to be fear'd than you It is high time to explain my self and I am so wretched as not to please you let me then at least understand my misfortune Well Sir says she will you be satisfy'd if I tell you that such a Man as you never sigh'd in vain she could not bring forth these words without blushing but they so strangely possest our young Lover with a joyous transport that flinging himself at her knees he embrac'd them a thousand times She made him rise and told him smiling he should have a care the Viceroy did not find him again in that Posture whom he was to look upon as his most dangerous Enemy I know it Madam says he in a tone wherein there was less assurance and that he is already too well established in your Heart ever for me to hope to displace him it is not on that point replies she you ought to fear him but it is because he will have
and is high spirited withal But that which put her into absolute despair was that the Bassa not able to obtain any truce from his jealousie having spent some time in her company without any caress or giving her the least evidence of kindness though she had more than once given him occasion to shew it told her he had a longing desire to go and hearken and know how the Christians in the Bower entertained one another She made him no answer but letting him go she the next minute after went another way towards the same Bower to observe the Bassa and see what he did there The Nights in that Country are very clear especially in Summer The Bassa notwithstanding all the caution he had used to post himself securely near Alexander's quarter under the favour of the Hedges that covered his approach was perceived by the counterfeit Laura in the Bower She had discovered him by his shaddow and having made her lover aware of it he presently went out and ran to meet the Bassa to intreat him not to come any further but permit him to enjoy that moment of pleasure he had been pleased to procure him The Sultaness not knowing what wind had brought the Bassa to that side of the Garden and fearing he would come into the Bower would not be perswaded by any thing that Alexander could say to her to stay after him in the Bower but presently went out to hide her self in some corner of the Garden where she might be in better security The mean time the jealous Bassa confounded at the discovery and having lost the opportunity of executing the design he had so unfortunately laid suffered himself to be prevailed upon by the intreaties of his Rival and returned towards his Bower as Alexander to his where being arrived he was sufficiently amazâ—d at missing the Sultaness but thought she had fled away for fear which troubled him extreamly but just as he was leaving the Bower to go in search of her he saw in the furthest and most retired part of it something that seem'd to have the shape of a Woman Then going up thither and finding he had not been mistaken he fancied it only to be a trick of the Sultaness this pleased him extreamly and passionately imbracing her Madam said he are not you very waggish You would fain have made me run all about the Garden in search of you She answered not a word but getting out of his arms she went away briskly and withdrew into another corner of the Bower the Count was surprized at this manner of proceeding being not so gentle as he expected from the Sultaness who loved him so tenderly but to undeceive himself as soon as he could and to find out the cause of so sudden a change he went up to her the second time and taking her by the hand What may be the reason Madam said he that you run away and hide your self from me there is no fear of the Bassa he is withdrawn to his quater and bath promised not to give us any further disturbance But all this could not make her answer a word so that not knowing what to think of this rigour he kneeled on the ground where she was sitting on a seat of green Turf and kissing her hand prayed her for loves sake to tell him the reason why she seemed angry with him he courted and imbraced her with great passion and tenderness and she as patiently took it but at last perceiving her laugh a laughter very different from that of the Sultaness he examined her more nearly and knew by the difference of her shape and her Cloaths that he was mistaken It was inconceivable what a trouble this put him in He thought himself arrived in Fairy-land to see the strangest sights in the World That Laura had been changed into the Sultaness was not so surprizing as pleasant but that the Sultaness should be turned into another Woman and perhaps a Mistress of the Bassa's this was the thing he could not comprehend that which troubled him most and extreamly disquieted him was the pain he was in for not knowing what was become of the Sultaness and the fear he had the Bassa might have met her in the Garden and known her this moved him again to go out in search of her but Chabanea for it was she he had mistaken for the Sultaness held him fast by the sleeve and staid him telling him in the Moors Language it was not fit for him to quit in that manner a Lady for whom he had already express'd some affection The Count understood not her language prayed her to let him go for fear the Bassa should come and be offended at his being with her But all to no purpose she no more understood his Italian than he her Moresque and was so far from letting him go that she would have made him sit by her that she might revenge her self on the Bassa for the slight he had put upon her During this little contest which could not but be some what extraordinary between two Persons who understood not one another the Sultaness comes in quiet out of breath and throws her self half dead into the arms of Alexander who happened to be in a place ready to receive her What frightful fancies had he then in his head He presenly imagined they were utterly undone and that she had been discovered But the Bassa arriving presently after set him right again in saying you run away Madam speaking to the counterfeit Laura from a Person who wishes you no ill nor intends you any then turning towards Alexander he was about to excuse himself to him for breaking his word but seeing Chabania stand by him he suddenly altered both his mind and his Language asking her in Moresque what she was come thither for She answered him aloud and gave him a thousand reproaches for his unworthiness and weakness in quitting her to follow a Slave that run away from him This was a very rare Scene and the Dialogue not a little pleasing to the Sultaness but she had not long to laugh at it for Chabania being vext to the heart for the slight the Bassa had put upon her and for what he had said to her before her pretended rival flew like a Fury upon the Sultaness with that promptitude and swiftness that neither the Bassa nor Alexander who would have staid her were able to save the counterfeit Laura from being somewhat ill handled The Count was touched to the quick at this out-rage and no consideration of life or of duty could have prevented him from having satisfaction had not his fear of losing the Sultaness prevailed more upon him than his resentment The Bassa was as angry as he and taking the enraged Chabania by the hand he drew her somewhat rudely out of the Bower and led her away The Count was no sooner alone with the Sultaness but embracing her tenderly Madam said he with a passionate tone what dangers have you gone through
her self The Sultaness thinking this action too violent to be Alexander's began to mistrust and having given him his liberty till then she did the utmost in her power to resist him and knew though a little too late that she was abused and that this Man had neither the shape nor the stature nor face of her Alexander and that it must be the Bassa which some marks she knew about him soon put out of question she changed her method and stood upon her guard The resistance she made after the kindness she exprest at the first was observed by the Gallant and made him perceive that the cheat was discovered and no hopes of hiding himself So that without further dallying he made his last efforts and rendred those of the Sultaness so useless that he obtained his design This transported Lover was happy at least in conceit which sufficiently proves the power of imagination and that our greatest pleasures proceed from it I am sure there is no unfortunate Lover but may envy his mistake and that chance could not put a greater obligation on any Man than this on the Bassa His passion thus satisfied he withdrew without saying a word and the Lady made all the hast she could to her Chamber for fear the passionate Bassa should renew the assault Laura who had been much troubled at missing of her was no less amazed to see her come in the condition she was in which made her throw her self on the Bed where half weeping half laughing she told her the story of the adventure At which Laura did nothing but laugh expecting very pleasant conclusions from so comical beginnings The Count had been at the Bassa's in the Evening and not finding him within came on the Morrow to acquaint him with the resolution he had taken on the proposal As he entred the apartment he was told that the Bassa had been ill that night and had not slept at all and that he had forbidden any entrance into his Chamber but the Count having more priviledge than others they let him pass and he found him abed and writing with so sad a meen and so dejected a countenance that the Count presently concluded he had had a very ill night seeing Alexander on the sudden he coloured a little but the Count laying one knee to the ground I come Sir said he to beg one favour more of you You are the principal Author of all the Love I am engaged in it is my misfortune that you feel the same passion Accept I beseech you the sacrifice I make you Sir I will never love and if you will have it so I will never see Laura more Bless me cryed the Bassa what Lovers are these is it posible that two persons who began to love one another with so tender affection can part with such ease and that I who am am not beloved cannot bring my self to this speak Alexander and tell me whether it proceeds from any distast you have taken or that you do it for my sake No Sir answered the Count Laura is this day as amiable in my eyes as the first day I saw her but rather than see you in the condition I find you in I will not spare the doing my self any violence I am capable of and for your quiet and my own I heartily wish I never had seen her This example is so rare replyed the Bassa that nothing less than the esteem I have for you can make it credible In the mean time this Billet will let you see that I have not staid for you to set me a President but that I know in my turn how to give Presidents for others to imitate but not to out do It is written to Laura read it And there it will appear to you that if I have done you wrong I know how to punish my self for it I should be heartily sorry so virtuous and excellent a person as you should part from us with an ill opinion of me The Count extreamly surprized at this discourse not comprehending the reason of it after an answer full of respect and acknowledgment to his dear Patron took the Billet and there read these words If all the passion Man can have for a Woman is not capable to justifie the crime I committed against you you ought to pardon me at least having suffered in one night all the torments and afflictions of a cruel repentance which yet fills my soul with grief and confusion And if by giving you and your Lover your Liberty I may in some measure make amends for my faults you may make you ready for your voyage for to morrow morning you shall go both together Farewell and think of the violence I did my felf in forcing from my bosom two persons whom of all I ever saw I loved most entirely and then you will find me not altogether unworthy of pardon The Count was so confounded at reading the Billet as never was Man and had much ado to hide the disorder it put him in he kneeled the second time as it were to give the Bassa thanks for this last favour which before his engagement in Love with the Sultaness had been the greatest he could have done him but now after his passion it was certainly the greatest misfortune could befal him He was willing by this action to hide from the Bassa the trouble he was in But the Bassa took him up and told him he could not see him in that posture for a business where he had more cause to complain of him than to thank him that he should know at leisure the whole matter from Laura and that in the mean time he had nothing to do but prepare for his Voyage that he had given order to stay a Christian Vessel which should have gone off that very day for Italy and should land them at Legorn that the weather was fair and that without fail he should embark with Laura on the morrow for all which he gave him his word The Count having taken leave of the Bassa went out of the Chamber with a heart so full of trouble and affliction for the news he had received that he wanted a more proper place to comfort himself and to vent his thoughts of the resolution the Bassa had taken to give him his Liberty and to send Laura with him He knew not what might have obliged him to a resolution of this nature though upon reading the Billet he did imagine the Bassa had committed some outrage on Laura but this was not the thing troubled him it was the Sultaness from whom he must part and must bid her adieu for ever to part with a Woman one loved so tenderly to part with her for ever and to part with her in the height of his passion sounds very harsh and where is the Lover could take such a resolution for any reason what-ever Yet Liberty which to a Man who knows what 't is to be a Slave to a Man of Alexander's quality is a
precious to be employ'd in satisfying the curiosity of knowing by what means he was so unexpectedly arrived at so compleat a Felicity The Vessel under sail with a favourable gale rendred them as secure as Mortals can be on an Element where the Winds are in a manner Master of our Lives as well as Resolutions The Happy Lovers lost not the advantage of the Season to enjoy one another with as much pleasure and satisfaction as prosperous Love is capable of The Captain of the Bassa's Guards being arrived at Tunis took Horse and soon got to Bardou where he found his Master walking alone in the Garden and gave him an account of the departure of Alexander The Bassa like a man dejected and disconsolate having lift up his Eyes and Hands to Heaven without saying a word withdrew into a Marble Bower in the midst of the Garden where he continued all that day having given his Guards express Orders not to permit any Person whatever to come near him hoping thus to free himself from the importunity he fear'd from the Sultaness on Laura's account His Servants and Guards were much surprized at these Orders not knowing what might be the cause of his displeasure unless it were that Alexander was gone In the Evening arrived at Bardou a Spahie who brought him a Letter and was followed by another and he by a third who all came to speak with him on business of extream haste and importance but being acquainted with the Orders he had given they durst pass no further but resolved to wait his coming out of the Bower The Turks observe exactly the Orders of their Masters but Aly the Captain of the Guard gathering from the number of Couriers the importance of their business thought it his Duty to step to the Town being but three Miles distant to learn what the matter was and getting presently on Horse-back went directly to the General of the Gallies being one of them who had dispatched the Spahies The General sent him instantly back with strict Order to speak with the Bassa and tell him that to oppose the designs his Enemies had against his Life his presence was absolutely necessary at Tunis Aly who apprehended the consequence of the affair made no scruple when returned to Bardou to present himself before his Master who extreamly enraged to see his Orders broke first by him would neither hear him nor receive the Letter he would have delivered him from the General of the Gallies But locking himself up past his time till the fourth Prayer when he took Horse to return to the Town By the way he received Letters from several but thinking they came from the Sultaness or some of her party he opened not one of them The General of the Gallies astonish'd not to see him come after News sent him what was Plotting against him resolved to go in Person to see what stay'd him at Bardou and by the way met him The Bassa seeing him come with a very large Train asked him smilling if he thought he had been Besieged that he came to meet him with so numerous a Party You are pleasant Sir answered the General but I wish we stand not in need of far greater Forces before we come to Tunis The Bassa observing him to speak in good earnest fixt his Eye upon him a while without speaking a word then askt him what need there could be of the Forces he mentioned and with Indignation what says he will they Assault me for love of the Sultaness Do not you think Sir replyed the General there is reason enough for 't Can you believe that a Prince like the Dey your Mortal Enemy but from the Teeth outwards can brook the injury you have done him who loves the Sultaness his Daughter better than his Life What injury said the Bassa What injury reply'd the General An injury than which in my Opinion a greater could not have been offered What answers the Bassa interrupting him will they dispute my Power to set two of my Slaves at liberty at my pleasure No Sir said the General no question is made of your Right or Power in the particular you mention but the Sultaness was not your Slave and unless you design'd to engage in a new Civil War not only the Rules of Honour Justice and Religion but the Maxims of good Polity should have prevail'd with you not to deliver her into the hands of a Christian than which a greater misfortune cannot befal a Woman of our Religion The Bassa thought this Discourse so extravagant that he burst out a laughing and gave him no other answer but that he had taken the Alarm too soon The General being moved reply d with some heat you know me too well to think me concern'd at that you reproach me with but when you come to Tunis you shall judge if I had not cause to take the Alarm If the Dey answer'd the Bassa design a breach with me he will find a better pretence than you speak of True it is I have sent away Laura with Alexander the Christian without the consent of the Sultaness but there were reasons for it and such as the the Sultaness of all Persons living had most cause to approve The General of the Gallies did verily believe the Bassa was seriously bent upon raillery and willing to keep that as a secret which all the World knew which he took in ill part and had not spoke a word more on that subject had not the Bassa continued the Discourse But Sir said the General interrupting him what pleasure can you take in endeavouring to conceal from me one of your best Servants and Friends a business so notorious to all Every body knows Laura is in your Seraglio and that the Sultaness is embarked with Alexander Not to mince the matter I must tell you the general voice is that for Love of this Slave you have rid your hands of the Sultaness and Alexander and that you design to Marry Laura though a Christian But give me leave to tell you that besides the novelty of the thing the like having never happened in this Kingdom not only the Dey and Divan will oppose it but your Friends will to their power obstruct it and prevent it if they can and I dare undertake you will scarce find a Person of your side The Bassa hearing him speak in this manner thought him distracted and would have used him accordingly but restrained by the Friendship he had for him Laura says he whom I saw carried in a Basket whom I accompanied to the Port where they put her aboard a Shallop whom the Captain of my Guard conducted to the Vessel in which she was Embarked and he saw under sail this Laura is in my Seraglio and I am to Marry her Sir answered the General did I not know you very well and were fully perswaded of the good esteem you are pleased to Honour me withall I should not know what to think of your Discourse for it cannot be but
excellent refreshments that she found her self better used in the Prison than in the Bassa's Seraglio she knew not what to attribute so much goodness and complaisance to and was a little troubled out of an apprehension she had there might be some love in the case for the Turk appeared so civil so punctual and so full of kindness above the ordinary rate of those of his Country that she had cause to think him rather a Lover of her than a meer Friend of the Bassa's yet had he not in a syllable transgressed the respect that was due to her which pleased her the more that she had no cause on that account to be angry with a Man who had done her so many good Offices And the truth is he acted only out of a principle of generosity having been five or six years a Slave in Italy to a Patron who had used him very well and therefore being of a generous nature he held himself obliged to do the Christians good offices as having for them a more than ordinary Love and Esteem As Laura was complaining of her ill Fortune which threw her out of one mischance into another he pray'd her to tell him how she was made a Slave Laura was so much obliged to him that the trouble she might expect in her self upon a fresh relation of her misfortunes could not hinder her from giving him that small satisfaction in acknowledgment of the many services he had done her so that having assured him there was nothing pleasant in the story of her life yet to let him know the first rise of her misfortunes she begun in this manner Sir I was born at Genoa and of one of the best Families of that Republick but you shall excuse me if I conceal the name I will save my Family that shame since my misfortunes can do it no credit I was born in a prosperous and flourishing Estate and my Parents having no other Child I was bred With that care and expence I may rather call profuse than great It was my misfortune that my Mother died when I was but 12 years old and that my Father though aged married a young Lady more considerable for Birth than Estate but my Father had sufficient to satisfie the ambition or pride of a Woman of quality But these were not the Vanities my Mother-in-law was subject to it was Love had the Ascendent over her My Father was old she was young and handsom and he had cause to be jealous of her He let her stir but very rarely out of her Lodging and never but in his company and then only to Church or to make a visit to a Friend or Relation But who can resist his fate My Mother-in-law little pleased with the severe hand my Father held over her found her inclination to be unfaithful to him increase more and more nothing provokes desire more than restraint and difficulties and straits are Sisters of invention she made use of several to carry on some little intrigues in the Town but all to no purpose my Father an old Master in Gallantry was so cunning and mistrustful that nothing could escape him So that the kind Lady desparing of relief from abroad was willing to try if she could find at home any means to satisfie her inclinations She cast her eyes on a Man of condition so mean I dare not for her reputation let you know what it was though otherwise very handsom honest and till then very faithful to my Father who had more trust in him than in any of his Domesticks this acquaintance and familiarity so dishonourable for a Lady of her quality lasted for some time without being discovered till at last by ill fortune for them and for me having laid me down to sleep on a bed of repose in my Mother-in-laws chamber I was an eye-witness of their Infamy they were not aware of me my Maid having by chance covered me with a piece of Tapestry laid usually on the bed I saw them and they me with what surprize you may imagine I was then 14 or 15 years old Was he not a Slave says the Turk interrupting with a tone full of joy and surprize Yes Sir answer'd Laura astonisht at the Question which made her look earnestly on him he was a Slave and of Turky Ah Madam cries the other as soon as she had said so is it possible you should not know Assen and that you should be Madam Elinor At this Laura was mute for some time and then recollecting her self Oh Heavens is it you my poor Assen says she By what good fortune have I met you here and fallen in your hands By the best fortune in the world both for you and me says the Turk ravished with joy to find himself in a condition to serve her and being under the obligations I am to you I should be the most ingrateful of men if I imploy not my self in your service I know you may accuse me on the account of your Mother-in-law but what could a poor slave have done tempted by the charms of a fair Lady who offered him Money and Liberty when he pleased You will confess men are gain'd by less matters and that if I committed a Crime in doing as I did after the Confidence so good a Master as your Father reposed in me and the bounty he shewed me yet it is pardonable at least I believe I have made some amends for my fault in saving your Lives which your Mother would have robbed both you and him of by poyson But I had that influence over her Passion that I diverted her from it She made me a thousand promises if I would put in Execution that horrible design but because you are ignorant what followed that Adventure I will tell you in few words Your sight of us as you said surpriz'd extreamly both the one and the other and in that desperate Passion your Mother-in-Law was then in I know not what she would have done to have been rid of you But as I told you I opposed her and made her understand that the course she proposed would certainly plunge us into irreparable Mischiefs and doubtless cost us both our Lives That it were better to endeavour to gain you by fair means in hopes that being very good natur'd you would not pursue our destruction by making your Father acquainted with that which would certainly be the cause of his Death and bring him to his Grave You cannot but remember I went alone with you out of the Chamber to perswade you And that I told you it concern'd the Honour of your House to keep the matter private with several other reasons with which you express'd your self convinced At last you promised me not to make any more noise of it if your Mother-in-Law would for the future keep within the bounds of her Duty I made a relation of all this to her expecting that the experience of your discretion so well known in the Family would have past
for current Security for your keeping your word But it could not secure her from strange inquietude and trouble of Mind She could not see you without shame nor come near your Father without trembling She buzz'd instantly in my Ears that there was a necessity of making you both a Sacrifice to her Repose and that till then she could not expect any Pleasure in her Life She told me I must help her to effect the design or expect to be the first that should feel the weight of her wrath I endeavoured the best I could to reduce her to Reason but for some time she would not hear any At last her ill humour desired only the satisfaction of your being put out of your Lodging and was content to find out several pretences to perswade your Father to put you into a Nunnery or at least out of his House Notwithstanding all the Arts of her Complaisance and Cunning she found it no easie matter to bring this about but for the quiet of the House it was necessary to please her and place you under Pension in a Nunnery Shortly after whether it were that you had discovered the business or that she fear'd you had done so or rather that she was willing to be rid of me by this Stratagem she came one Night to my Chamber while your Father was asleep and with a fright in her looks told me I was undone that my Master knew all and that I had no more but that Night for to save my self Whereupon she gave me Money and seeing me resolved to be gone bid me her last farewell I kept as you remember the Keys of the House and so got easily out I had for a Disguise taken a black Suit of your Fathers and as soon as it was day and the Port open I hired a Felucca which carried me to Legorne where I lay private three days staying for a Vessel of the Great Dukes which was to carry a Present to Mahomet Bassa my Ancient Friend who made use of his Interest with the Dey to restore me my Estate which since I was a Slave had been Confiscated upon a belief I was dead But having fail'd of his desire he procured me in recompence the Secretaries place which is no great matter here This Madam is the account of my Life since I left Italy You may oblige me in acquainting me with yours which I could not come to the knowledge of having never heard since from Genoa That which remains to be told you says Elinor whom we will yet call Laura is a story full of troubles and misfortunes the more difficult for me to relate that a Person of Quality cannot but be ashamed of them But I will be free with you Having spent two Years in the Covent I was placed in my Father moved with many tears took me home where for the time I stayed there I was under continual Persecution from my Mother-in-law who having got the Ascendent over the good Man made him believe what she pleased She had new designs in her Head which you may believe was the cause of the fear she put you in for my Father never had the least knowledge of your familiarity and was much troubled at your running away declaring he had lost in you the best Servant he had He had designed to have set you at Liberty which was the reason he sent not after you as he might have done I was by this time become somewhat clear sighted and what I knew of my Mother-in-law made me suspect every thing she did I watched her narrowly and in few days discovered a new Gallant You may believe that after the mischiefs she had done me I fail'd not to do her all the ill Offices in my power it is the nature of our Sex never to Pardon But besides the pleasure of Revenge I was engaged in Honour against her This raised a War between us more violent than ever and my Father had trouble enough to content us both At first she thought her self hard enough for me having once already turn'd me out of the House and afterwards sent you packing and putting on a bold face fear'd nothing as knowing I would not accuse her of any thing but her impudence could bring her off my Evidence being gone But when she perceived by my obstructing her new practices rallying her on all occasions and other cutting effects of my resentment that I understood her Secrets she spared nothing that Rage and Fury could suggest to her against me At last she fell heavy upon me with my Father and having not prevailed with him to return me into the Monastery forced him to turn me again out of his House and place me with his Relations where I passed six Months with one and six Months with another to the great displeasure of the Family Till at last a Grandee of Spain an old Friend of my Fathers having been created Viceroy of Naples and passing by Genoa to go and take Possession of his Government my Father intreated him to take me along with him which he readily did The Viceroy and his Lady received and entertained me not only as the Daughter of their intimate Friend but as their own and honoured me with such expressions of Civility and Bounty that I thought my self too happy in being of their Train And the truth is I was not deceived these beginnings of kindness growing every day to greater perfection especially on the part of the Viceroy's Lady who appeared not able to live a moment without me She had been a great Beauty and was not then unhandsome though not very young She kept nothing from me but imparted to me her most private thoughts and made me the Confident of her dearest affections This lasted as long as I was disinteress'd but there is no trusting one another of our Sex especially in matters of Love I was reputed not unhandsome and having a full Purse at command I lived at that Court with Splendor enough It was presently known I was not the most inconsiderable of Genoa and this advantage set off with a little Beauty raised so great a number of Pretenders to me that I could not pass a day without treats and addresses of Love The Court of Naples hath always pass'd for the most Gallant of Italy by reason of the multitude of Persons of Quality in the Kingdom but was never so pleasant as then I was so young that I knew not what Love was and was not concerned to make haste to learn it but made the Cares and Sighs of those in Love my sport and divertisement But Love will in time be revenged and make sport of us that make sport of him I had not yet seen the man who had the secret to affect my heart no not one who could please though that Court had of all sorts and some very handsome The Son of the Viceroy being a young Lord very well accomplished and not a little concerned for me did but give me trouble
her Eyes When I was come to my self I saw her not but the Marquess kneeling before me with a countenance so sad and so dejected it melted me into pity and eâ—sed me of more than half of my anger What have you done Sir said I you have utterly ruined me Go and see me no more but at seasonable Hours and when every body might see me after which though I was very well pleased with his Company I pray'd him to withdraw to prevent further occasion of Discourse I am sensible dear Assen I spend too much time in relating particulars so inconsiderable and abuse your Patience in entertaining you with such trifles But this having been the best of my time in that Court and best part of my story you will excuse the difficulty I find in my self to come to the relation of Accidents so shameful for me that the memory of them is more terrible than Death Assen having answered that all she had said was very material and that he thought himself equally concerned in the smallest Circumstances of her Life as well as the greatest she proceeded in this manner The Viceroy's Lady having fallen out with me and finding reason enough of difference with the Marquess who in spite of her visited me often you may believe she past her time very melancholy and sad The first time the Marquess came to see me I insisted that if he designed to please me he should begin to do it by telling me in particular all the kindness and caresses past between the Viceroy's Lady and him But he intreated me with so much Ingenuity not to make use of the power I had over him to oblige him to a thing so mean that his Discretion prevailed over my Curiosity and made me esteem him the better for it however he let me know 't was of her he spoke in the Billet as I had easily guess'd The disconsolate Lady who could not but be concern'd for us was willing to seek Peace and having found a fair pretence for it sent me word by one of her Women that I might do her a pleasure if I would give her a Visit which I fail'd not to do She received me chearfully and with smiles in her Countenance she being an Excellent Mistress of the Art of Dissembling after some Civilities shewed me she brought me to the Closet where beginning her Discourse with a very great sigh Well my dear Elenor said she are you still angry with me I am heartily sorry Madam said I that you gave me cause who never deserved it Come let us agree said she to say nothing of what is past and give me leave to let you see I am your Friend It is that I desired Madam reply'd I and the Honour I have always had for you must needs make you believe your Friendship very precious and dear to me 'T is enough said she come tell me presently if there were a proposal of Marriage between the Marquess and you do you love him so well as not to refuse him Such a Proposal from her appeared very suspicious and seeing me laugh as one who would not be caught in that Trap I do not speak to you now continued she as a Rival as you have believed me to be and as perhaps added she smiling I have formerly been but as your true and sincere Friend I tell you that if you desire to Marry the Marquess it shall be your fault if it be not done with that she shewed me a Letter from the Viceroy to my Father written to that purpose at the request of the Marquess and said your Father hath so much respect for my Husband that there is no doubt but it will take effect the Marquess having desired my leave to speak of it to the Viceroy and finding by the Character of the Letter they endeavoured in good earnest to unite me to a Man who was furnish'd with all I could wish as well for a settlement as to please my affection I was ravished with Joy but let it appear as little as I could mistrusting my Fortune especially being in the hands of a Person who would dearly repent it before it could be effected I thanked her with the most acknowledging and affectionate expressions I could invent and there passed so many Caresses on the one side and on the other that you would have thought we had never been so great Friends before At my return I found the Marquess in my Chamber where he waited to bring me this pleasing News with a Countenance full of Joy and that the Viceroy had given him free liberty to visit me I told him I had heard all this from a Person he could not easily guess and in truth it was hardly credible it should be the Viceroy's Lady I told him it was she and related all our Discourse The Liberty granted the Marquess to visit me when he pleased having heightned the affection we had one for another degenerated by degrees into a kind and tender familiarity He took a little more upon him than had been allowed him and more indeed than I ought to have permitted him But 't is hard for one in Love so deeply as I was to be proof against the Amorous assaults of a Man she expects to be her Husband on the Morrow At first I made resistance enough and would not so much as give him my hand to kiss but Love blinds so that he doth insensibly lead us away and accustom us to things we never durst think of After the first blush the rest follows of course We expected with equal impatience my Fathers answer We were already mutually engaged so that if his answer should not have proved favourable we were resolved to compleat our happiness Such engagements given to save a Maids Honour are but snares Love lays for her Virtue The Marquess as all true Lovers being impatiently earnest for the possession of my Person as well as Affection whereof he was assured and fearing cross Accidents that might hinder our Bliss let me know amongst some little favours I allowed him to take that he was very desirous to obtain of my gift what I had forbid him to hope without my Fathers consent and that if I loved him I would make it appear in obliging him in that particular I made as if I did not understand him but by degrees he spoke so intelligibly that I was under the necessity of being very angry with him or of defending my self with Arguments Finding it impossible to be angry with a Man I loved I fell to Disputing but he was too hard for me And certainly in matters of Love a Maid that comes to reasoning is in danger of being lost However our combat lasted long enough to make me fancy I had satisfied my humour but at last I must yield I thought there needed not so much caution with a person who had given the Viceroy his word that he would marry me and assured me as I believed by a thousand Oaths that he
all over with lying in the Meal-sack that she took him for one of Assen's Men but seeing him laugh she viewed him more narrowly and knew him Oh Heavens is it you Sir says she Oh? whither are you come in search of an unfortunate wretch which hath already given you so much trouble and too great cause of complaint It is easie answers the Bassa to pardon those we love But is it possible you are here and that the Sultaness is gone away in your stead tell me was it she that betray'd you or was it Alexander I know not what to think of it but when I consider his proceedings in this last adventure I cannot suspect him tracherous For 't was not his fault I discovered not the Sultataness it was I hindred him to take off her Barnus that I might see her However if he loved you I am sufficiently Reveng'd of you for you have lost more than I and if he was false to you you may comfort your self with the assurance of the affection of a Person not so unworthy of your favour as he was These last words put Laura to the blush but making no answer to them As for me Sir said she I neither lost a Lover in him nor have cause to charge him with falshood but must lay on my ill Fortune all the blame of my being left behind him You surprize me much replies the Bassa and make me conclude you an excellent Dissembler or my self the most abused Man in the World Call to mind Sir says Laura What I told you so often that my affection for Alexander was very indifferent and to be taken off when I pleased The Ladies of your Country differ very much from those of Christendom in their course of Love yours are very susceptible easily take impression and are equally unconstant Ours are more shiâ— of engaging in Love but when engaged their love is more lasting You believed me a Turk and several times did me Honours due only to the Sultaness whom you often mistook for me The Sultaness replies the Bassa much surpriz'd at the News The very same Sir says Laura for 't is now time to disabuse you and since I may justly glory to have made of my Passion for Alexander a Sacrifice to her Love I may now be allowed to declare it when she is out of all danger of inconvenience by my owning it The Sultaness Sir continued she more affected than I with the good qualities of that Christian looked upon him as worthy of her Love But permit me to say you may thank your self for it who first sought out the means to gain the Honour of finding a Gallant for your Lady You may believe replies the Bassa I design'd no such matter yet I pardon it in a Woman I had no kindness for But the falseness of the Christian was unpardonably base who besides the regard he should have had for the daily favours I did him ought to have observed at least the Laws of Hospitality The Sultaness Sir said Laura had a Beauty of power to corrupt the most upright of Men and had she been anothers Wife I durst not have undertaken for your integrity in the case I had a desire to see the Christian you brought him into the Seraglio she had a sight of him He was handsom she loved him and told him so what could he do The Bassa could not forbear laughing at her relating the story And 't is all the concern the Turks express for the falseness of their Wives especially those they have no love for having Seraglio's well stor'd and the priviledge to change Wives at pleasure The Bassa very patiently took the loss of his Sultaness and told Laura it must be her fault if he should not be now more happy than ever The subtil Slave very sensible how useful he might be to her in the present conjuncture thought it unseasonable to give him a repulse but resolv'd to manage to advantage so good an overture she told him only that was not a time to make Love You see Sir continues she I am here in a Prison I know not how to get out of But I know how to do it replies the Bassa haughtily and if within three days you be not at Liberty I 'le fill the Streets of this Town with the Bodies of the Inhabitants Ah Sir answers Laura that were the way not to save me but to hasten my Death And it being known I am the cause of this Disorder you may easily guess what Mercy I shall find If you have Sir any value for my Life since it may be saved without shedding Blood and that matters are now in a way of accommodation let me intreat you not to think of those horrible extremities Believe me says the Bassa 't is their design to amuse me till the Troops they expect from Tripoly be arriv'd but I shall take Order for that and if you will prevent inconveniences that may happen you must resolve to get out hence this Evening and go along with me Get out hence Sir replies Laura and how shall it be done out of a Castle where I am under Guard and have so many Gates to pass You see says the Bassa spight of all those Guards and those Gates I have entred and resolve to get out again and may not you so too But Sir says Laura consider I am a Woman and however disguised may be easily discovered by my gate or my stature and the least obstacle we meet with will put me into such a fright will infallibly ruin both you and me Assen fortified her Reasons with his and absolutely condemned the Enterprize proposed as exposing the Bassa and her to apparent danger of inevitable ruin You shall see Sir adds he by the difficulty you and I shall find to get out the trouble we should have to get a Woman along with us I am of Opinion with the rest of your Friends 't is best to come to an accommodation The Troops from Tripoly will be long a coming and if you keep the Town streightly block'd up a few days longer you will oblige the People to Petition the Dey to make Peace which we of your Party will not fail to help forward And the Dey being of a timerous irresolute temper will be glad of the pretence to come to an Agreement The Bassa though more inclin'd to violent than moderate actions yielded this time to the perswasion of two Persons who were the dearest to him of any and whose interest he knew it was not to give him any Counsel to his disadvantage He told them he would stay a Week longer but if in that time neither the Threats nor Intercession of his Friends should prevail he would make use of some Stratagem to reduce the Town and if that failed he would employ all his Force to bring the Dey to Reason Assen was easily induced to assent to all this knowing the Town was ill provided of Corn and that the Inhabitants began already
extreamly desirous to improve so happy a beginning by a suitable progress to an intire pacification But though she saw him much troubled and very penitent she gave him not the comfort of a kind expression or look but against her inclination forced her self to appear harsh and act the cruel against him Assen who thought one night at least necessary to be afforded Laura to dispose her self for an intire Reconciliation and that being upon the point of executing so hazardous a design care should be had to take their measures aright asked the Aga whether he thought it not fit to retire lest being seen to come from Laura so late he might give cause of suspicion The Aga answered he need fear nothing the Dey having given him full power to stay as long as he pleased But Laura who had more reason to be of Assen's than of the Aga's opinion who was wholly led by his passion spoke to him though somewhat against her will to withdraw The Aga ready to obey this order begged the favour of her to give him hopes at least she would pardon him if he made it appear he was altogether innocent as to the matter of Alphonso and that her hatred of him should be at an end She made him no answer but her eyes betrayed her heart and spoke clearer in his favour than her voice could have done Beyran kissed one of her hands which she could not refuse him and left her full of that evenings adventures which found her entertainment The rest of that night not knowing what to think of Beyran's fortune whom she believed turned Turk for despair at the thought of this the tears trickled down her Cheeks and she perceived that if what he told her was true of her having been betrayed by her Maid and that he had not any hand in Alphonso's base action as in truth it was scarce credible he had she would love him more than ever and pardon his being found with the Vice Queen though this was a tender point and not to be remembred without a volly of sighs Assen found the Aga's news true and not able to get out of the Castle went with him to his apartment where the pretended Renegado caused a Bed to be provided him but they spent the whole night in discourse Assen you may believe had an itching curiosity to hear the story of Marquess Hippolito having heard Laura's Assen as soon as they were private fell into that discourse The Aga who knew how much he wanted Assen's help to plead for him to Laura was ready to pleasure him with the relation and having understood Laura had told him part of What concern d her he was willing to acquaint him with what came not to her knowledge and began thus When I arrived at Naples I found there the Viceroys Son whom I was acquainted with in my younger days and renew'd our friendship establish'd rather in the conformity of our age than of our Inclinations he brought me to Court and esteemed it necessary a new comer should be a little instructed in the passages there he took the pains to tell me all the principal Intrigues and â—ffairs of Love and made me the Confident of his Passion for the fair Eleanor expecting from the fair friendship between us I would when acquainted with her do him the best service in my power I had a sight of her and by the first effects of that view could easily fore-see there was no continuing Alphonso 's Friend without becoming his Rival I was troubled at it and reproached my self for my unfaithfulness but what signified that when there was love in the case There was no resisting Eleanors charms and I had instantly taken the resolution to love her had not the Vice Queen used all possible arts to divert me she express'd no small complaisance for me which I attributed to the friendship between her Son and me But having found me one day in deep meditation she asked me whether I would freely acknowledge the cause of my melancholy if she could guess what it was and might serve me in the business I assur'd her I would she adds I was under the Fate of many other unfortunate Lovers who could not see Eleanor without being affected with the excellency of her Beauty I was strangely surpriz'd to find a passion scarce entertained in my Soul already known to the Vice Queen and could not imagine how she came by the discovery of a secret I had resolved to keep close as long as possibly I could it was not in my power to deny it the trouble in my face and change of my colour having given her sufficient evidence how truly she had guessed I told her I found my self too weak to resist the Charms of that beautiful Maid and was sorry only Don Alphonso her Son and my Friend was concern'd she answered that a passion we cannot master was not to be complain'd of nor blam'd and that her Son could not be so unreasonable as not to pardon my falling into a distemper himself had been afflicted with But she believed I should prove as unfortunate as her Son but to keep her word with me she would let me see my concerns were more dear to her than the Interest of her Son but I must not blame her if her endeavours should prove ineffectual which she had too much cause to expect from the strange and unparallel'd insensibility of that fair Maid that she would speak for me that very day and see what hopes of a favourable reception and whether she defi'd love out of a general aversion for Mankind or a particular disgust against some of that Sex The same time she assigned me Ten a Clock at night to meet her in the great Walk in the Garden to receive an account of her Negotiation I was there to wait for her and she keept her Assignation I saw her come with one of her Maids who was her Confident and having given her my hand to lead her into a Bower I went in with her trembling for fear of having ill News which I presently apprehended from her Countenance Poor Marquess says she you have no better fortune than others this Girls heart is proof to all Essays and did you but know that ill-favoured description and scurvy character she gave of you you would soon judge it to no purpose to apply your self to her but I would have you believe I say not this to discourage you but should be sorry to see a young Gentleman as you having qualities worthy the esteem of a fair Lady should imploy them where there is not any hopes to prevail I had certainly suspected this extraordinary condescension and goodness of the Vice-Queen had not what she said been agreeable to the report of the whole Court that the fair Eleanor was the most insensible person in the World I knew well enough 't was not any concern she had for the Passion of her Son made her speak as she did she loved
affectionately to him The Dey within a week after my arrival made me his Aga You know Assen what a sad life I led but who would have thought says he addressing himself to Eleanor I was so near what I searched for and loved above all the World yet knew nothing of it and that my Fate should make me so happy when I was just upon losing you The Marquess and Eleanor entred into further discourse of their adventures and the Masters of the Vessel coming to consult Assen he left them together to go on with their stories The wind chopped about and threatned a Storm the Vessel being small they thought it inconvenient to venture further to Sea They tack'd about making towards Biserti intending to sail near the Coast of Barbary till they should come over against Sardinia that they might cross over as soon as the weather served into the Isles of St. Peter where they hoped to anchor This was their resolution and 't was well for them they followed it for the Storm was so great they were forced to lye at Anchor three or four days among the Rocks on the Coast of Barbary They were so far from Tunis they had no cause to fear pursuit being at Anchor in a place where a thousand Vessels might have pass'd by without discovering them in the storm The storm at length was pretty well over and thc Brigandine pursu'd her Voyage along the Coast of Barbary meeting by the way several Creeks floating Hogsheads and Planks and other pieces of broken Ships which they doubted not were cast away in the last storm For two days they cruised along that Sea they were frequently entertained with those lamentable spectacles and at last heard the voice of a Man which they fancied must have come from a Rock at least three miles distant from Land they presently concluded it was one escaped out of the late Shipwracks Eleanor was moved to pity at the cry and Assen at her re-request turn'd the prow of his Brigandine towards the Rock The Sea was then calm and when they got within some paces of the Rock they saw a man almost naked without Hat without Stockings without Shoes so maimed and disfigured they knew not whether they should more fear him or pity him Assen having ordered the Sea-men to cease rowing asked him in Moresque how he came upon that Rock and what he would have I am an unfortunate Christian answers he in Italian and not unknown to you and if you will take the pains to get foot on land here you will find what perhaps you are in search of but you must lose no time otherwise your help may come too late Assen amazed to hear him speak so observed something in his Countenance made him think he had seen him elsewhere Eleanor was particularly astonished at his voice and fancied she knew it but the man was so disfigured she could not possibly call to mind who he was Assen asked his name and where he had seen him to know him I tell you answers the man I have here what you perhaps go in search of much further the man you see is Alexander the Bassa's Slave and if he has sent thee for his Wife thou may'st find her on this Rock half dead with her Sufferings these two days we have been here he had scarce done speaking but Eleanor invaded at once with joy and grief cry'd out which made the man turn his face and she knew him to be Alexander Ha Sir says she is it possible it should be you and not know Laura As she spoke thus Assen having commanded the Oars to turn the prow to land ordered a Plank from the Vessel to the Rock and pass'd over it first Hippolito following with Eleanor by the hand and all to embrace poor Alexander who was so transported with joy he could not say a word he pray'd Assen to get him something from aboard to comfort his dear Sultaness who had not eat any thing for three days past They gave order accordingly and instantly ran towards the place where the Sultaness lay under a Bush where they found her half dead a sad sight for Laura yet mixt with joy to see her but what an astonishing surprize was this to the Sultaness who could scarce open her eyes and knew not whether she were awake or in a Dream and whether what appeared to her were Persons or Spirits You may imagine the haste Eleanor made to help her being readily seconded with Hippolito's assistance What are you here Laura says the Sultaness with a feeble and languishing tone and am I not mistaken what good Angel hath sent thee to rescue me from the Jaws of Death Heavens my dear Sultaness answers Laura not able to forbear crying Heavens which hath had pity on us and delivered me also out of the hands of the Bassa The Sultaness began to recover but had not strength to speak long Assen told Alexander she would be better aboard than at land the Sea being still The Count who had not yet had leisure to discourse them asked where they were bound for and having understood they sail'd for Italy he could not sufficiently bless Heaven for so happy an accident The Sultaness was carried aboard and the weather being fair they resolved to put out to Sea and direct their course for Sardinia Laura was so careful of the Sultaness that she began to gather strength Assen and Hippolito did their part with the Count who had no less need of nourishment and rest This took up one day on the morrow the weather continuing fair and the Sultaness finding her self in a condition to discourse they related to her what pass'd at Tunis since her departure and desired Count Alexander to inform them how they came to be wrack'd and by what Fortune they got upon the Rock he answered to this purpose You have heard without doubt how the Sultaness was carried aboard by the Bassa's order who thought as well as I it was Laura You may imagine my surprize great and my joy inexpressible At our putting to Sea we had a good wind but scarce past the Cape of Carthage but we saw the Heavens cloudy on the sudden and had the wind in our Teeth and so strong a Gale that our Vessel being small and the storm increasing we were driven on this Coast and cast Anchor presently a violent and most terrible Hurricane broke out Cables set us a-drift and cast us upon the Rocks I leave it to you to guess what an extremity this was for a Lover having her he loved above the World ready to be lost before his face which heightned to the utmost the terrours of danger and death I stood by the Sultaness who with grief and fear was already half dead and reaching out her hand Dear Alexander says she since the hour is come we must dye let us dye together These words so resolute and kind pierced my very heart and turned me into a Statue leaving me without sence or